How Close Did the Bengals Get in Their Pursuit of Kenny Golladay?

The Bengals were close to landing Kenny Golladay before the Giants offered him big contract

CINCINNATI — The Bengals were one of multiple teams that tried to sign wide receiver Kenny Golladay after free agency began.

Cincinnati offered the Pro Bowler a one-year deal. The Bears also made a push for his services, before New York offered him a four-year, $72 million deal.

Golladay obviously took the deal with the Giants, but how close was he to joining Joe Burrow in Cincinnati? Dave Lapham shed some light on their pursuit of the star wide-out.  

"They were in the running for Golladay big time," Lapham said on the Bengals Booth Podcast. "Golladay wanted to sign with the Bengals, [that's] my understanding. And the Giants made a longer term commitment to him. With the money they didn't give Golladay, they got (Larry) Ogunjobi and (Riley) Reiff. I'll take that."

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Lapham's statement is believable, considering there were plenty of rumblings about Golladay's desire to play with Joe Burrow. The Giants gave him a contract he couldn't refuse, so he ended up in New York. 

Landing Golladay would've been big for Cincinnati, especially since there's a debate between taking an offensive lineman or a wide receiver with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

Listen to Lapham's entire conversation with Dan Hoard and Geoff Hobson on the Bengals Booth Podcast below. 

For the latest free agency news and NFL Draft coverage, bookmark AllBengals and check out some of our other articles below.

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